Good morning!  Are you ready for a new week full of new blessings and fresh perspectives?

Every week God takes something we learned from the previous chapter and brings it to life for me, in some way or another.  In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, we prayed that “God will guide us, that we will live as peacemakers, and grant to each of us the desire and the way of working to provide for ourselves and our families so that we will not be a burden, but can even afford to be generous with others.”

Before I had even published that devotional, we received a letter from a pastor we’ve known for many years, explaining how his congregation is struggling.  Though their building is payed for, their numbers have not grown enough to keep up with the expenses of ministry.  He asked for prayers, and that we might seek God’s guidance as to whether we can help them in any way.   What a privilege to be able to seek God’s will for their congregation, and we truly rejoice that we are able to help, even in some small way, to support them as they are waiting for what God will have them do next.

Also, (and this is a fun one) last week our Pastor taught some ways to share the gospel with others.  He stood right up front and asked, “When was the last time you prayed for boldness in sharing the gospel?”  

We started praying this in 1 Thessalonians 2:2!!!  It is crazy, amazing, wonderful to know God’s will for us, and such a privilege to be praying for His will to come to pass on earth as it is in heaven.  😀

Are these things happening to you???

Well,

Chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians is rather full.  Paul continues his dialog concerning the return of Christ, and then he switches gears, giving the church directions on how to live Godly, blameless lives while they (and we) wait for that glorious day.

I used the New American Standard Bible, the Amplified Bible, and Blueletterbible.org in my study this week.

Lets pray, and ask for wisdom before we begin.

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My Notes:

vs. 1 & 2– Now (a continuation of Paul’s discussion about end times).  It seems the Thessalonian church has already been educated about Christ’s return.

vs. 2 &3– Those who have not been saved will feel safe, but will be taken by surprise by His return (like a thief in the night) and they will not escape destruction (judgement for their sin).

vs. 4-9– The church should be ‘sober and alert (cautiously watch lest we fall away), ready for Christ’s return since we are not destined for judgement but for salvation through Jesus’s death and resurrection.  Paul sort of introduced the analogy of the armor of God here in being ready.

vs. 10– So-whether we are alive, or have physically died before Christ’s return, we (the saved church) will all live together with Him.

vs. 11– (continue to) build up and encourage one another within the church.

vs. 12 & 13– Paul instructs the church to appreciate, and in love, respect its leaders and teachers for their work.

vs. 13– live in peace with one another and

• vs. 14–admonish (seriously advise, warn) the unruly (disorderly–out of ranks, often of soldiers).
• encourage the timid, fainthearted
• help the weak (Proverbs 18:14~wounded spirit)
• be patient with everyone (individually and collectively, always keeping your temper)
• vs. 15–don’t repay evil for evil;
• instead, earnestly endeavor to show kindness and seek to do good to each other and everyone
• vs. 16–Rejoice always (be happy in your faith and glad-hearted)
• vs. 17– Pray without ceasing (persevere in prayer)
• vs. 18– in everything (all circumstances) give thanks; for this is God’s will for you
• vs. 19– Do not quench (subdue) the Spirit of God;
• vs. 20– Do not despise prophetic utterances (prophetic revelations, inspired instruction or warning, and perhaps even the Bible?)
• vs. 21– Instead, examine everything carefully (test everything— no God inspired instruction will ever contradict His Word, the Bible)
• Hold fast to what is good;
• vs. 22– Abstain from every form of evil (shrink away from it)
• vs. 23– May God completely sanctify/set apart/purify/consecrate you so that you may be preserved and found blameless (spirit, soul and body) at the return of Jesus.
• vs. 24– God is trustworthy and will fulfill His call on your life doing this (vs. 23).

vs. 25 & 26– Paul asked the church to pray for the apostles and greet the brethren for them.

vs. 27– They were to make sure Paul’s letter was read out loud before all the brethren.  They didn’t have Bibles.   (Their letter is part of our Bible!!)  It was important that they all hear this letter in order to receive encouragement and instruction.

vs. 28– was Paul’s closing and blessing.

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I am so thankful to have gone through the study, Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit, before getting to this chapter.  Better understanding of these Christ-like characteristics made Paul’s instructions for Godly living much more meaningful.  I put links to each “fruit” devotional as I see them applied in this context, so you can go back and read through them if you like.

When reading verse 23, where Paul talks about being preserved in spirit, soul, and body, I really wanted to understand more fully what this meant. (Yes, I am a Bible geek.  I know.) 😛

Body– is just our body.  We want to keep it holy by abstaining from sinful practices.

Spirit– is the power by which we know, desire, decide or act…

Soul– is the seat of our feelings, desires, affections, aversions.  Different than the body; not dissolved by death.  This is the same word Jesus used in Matthew when he said to love God with all your soul.

All these parts of our being, God wants to preserve as blameless until his return.

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“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”  1 John 5:14-15

How can I use these observations to pray according to God’s will?

Pray:

vs. 1-3– continue to pray for the lost, that they will be saved and ready for the Day of our Lord!

vs. 4-10– Thank God for our salvation, and ask Him for perseverance and faithfulness to watch for and be ready for Christ’s return.

“ In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8

vs. 11–Continue to pray for grace to build up and encourage one another within the body of Christ.

vs. 12,13– Ask God to work in our hearts, and give us the loving appreciation and respect that He desires for us to have for our church leaders and teachers.

vs. 13– Pray that we (the Church) will live in peace with one another (as we began praying in chapter 4, verse 11), AND:

That God will give us wisdom and boldness to…

vs. 14– admonish brothers who are out of order, and not living Godly lives,

Give us discernment how to best…

–encourage the faint-hearted, and support the weak and wounded in spirit.

Pray that God will supernaturally enable us to…

–be patient with everyone, individually and collectively (the whole church)

vs. 15– Pray that we will earnestly endeavor to show kindness and do good to everyone, never seeking revenge.

“So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];” Colossians 3:12

Pray that God will…

vs. 16– enable us to be happy in our faith and rejoice always

vs. 17, 18– strengthen us to persevere in prayer and give thanks in every circumstance.

vs. 19– Give us hearts that are tender toward God’s will, and never subdue the Holy Spirit who works within us,

vs. 20–and love God’s word and His correction,

vs. 21– give us discernment, as we examine everything, to know what is good and true, and what is not from God.  Help us hold fast to what is good!

vs. 22–Pray for wisdom and self control to shrink away from evil.

vs. 23– Thank God for His faithfulness in setting us apart and keeping us holy in spirit, soul, and body–blameless for Christ’s return.

vs. 27– Pray that God’s word will continue to be proclaimed (in our homes, churches and the world) and accomplish His will.